SELWYN.NZ visitors guide Kia ora Contents 4 WELCOME TO SELWYN 6 SELWYN DISTRICT MAP 8 EXPERIENCE SELWYN 10 EXPLORE BY FOOT 12 EXPLORE BY BIKE 14 PASTURE TO PLATE 16 SKI SELWYN 18 GOLF 19 GARDENS OF SELWYN 20 EXPLORE OUR TOWNS 21 PREPARE FOR THE ELEMENTS 22 TOUR ITINERARIES 24 LISTINGS: Activities & Attractions 24 Food & Drink 28 Transport 29 Accommodation 29 2 visit SELWYN.NZ 3 Kia ora WELCOMEFrom the Slopes TOto SELWYN the Sea Explore selwyn your way at your own pace intro text to go here. From the are home to century old farms, new industry, artisans, growers mountains to and producers. the sea Only 20 minutes from Selwyn is a dynamic region Christchurch, Selwyn has of diverse landscapes. The plenty to offer our visitors, stunning Southern Alps rise whether it’s for an afternoon, up against the skyline, behind a daytrip or a minibreak. See rugged ridges and rolling what awaits you in Selwyn, foothills. Stretching between from the mountains, plains the two magnicent braided and the sea. rivers, Waimakariri and Rakaia, Selwyn’s patchwork like plains 4 From the people Selwyn is rich with its fertile soils and lush pastures. Selwyn Selwyn district lies within is home to Lincoln University, the takiw¯a of Ng¯ai Tahu. the oldest agricultural teaching Te Taumutu Ru¯nanga have institution in the Southern shed the abundant waters of Hemisphere. Te Waihora/Lake Ellesmere for The people of Selwyn bring hundreds of years and still do their character and love of to this day. Traditionally Ma¯ori the district into their fresh would hunt moa and weka products. Meet the locals and along the Waikirikiri/Selwyn producers and get great insight River, providing food for hunting into the region and its history at parties, and travellers between the township markets, shops or the islands. farm gate stores. Often considered the breadbasket of New Zealand, visit SELWYN.NZ 5 explore SelwynFrom district Townshipthe locations Slopes and main arterial routes Hurunui district Greyto the Sea district Explore selwyn your way at your own pace intro text to go here. Westland district Waimakariri River TO WEST COAST Arthur’s Pass Great Alpine Highway 73 Kura Ta¯whiti /Castle Hill Springeld Inland Scenic Route Lake Coleridge Whitecliffs Lake Coleridge 77 Ashburton district TO LAKE TEKAPO AND QUEENSTOWN Follow us: Selwyn NZ @selwyn.nz Visit: selwyn.nz 6 Hurunui district SELWYN DISTRICT Rangiora Waimakariri district Oxford West Melton Prebbleton Sheffield Kirwee Inland Scenic Route 72 Darfield Rolleston Lincoln Tai Tapu Springston Glentunnel Dunsandel Hororata Te Waihora/ Doyleston Lake Ellesmere Leeston Rakaia River Southbridge Rakaia Huts TO DUNEDIN visit SELWYN.NZ 7 ADVENTURE From Experiencethe Slopes Selwynto the Sea Explore selwyn your way at your own pace intro text to go here. The Selwyn region Appreciate the night sky full appeals to culture of stars or simply taste what lovers, nature lovers, delicious produce the region has on offer from the farmer’s thrill seekers and markets or vineyards. connoisseurs of life’s nest things. Flowing from the Our activities are as diverse mountains to the as the landscapes. The hills mighty Pacic Ocean, and mountains offer a wealth the rivers, lakes of activities, from skiing and sea bring life to mountain biking, hot air to Selwyn. ballooning or horse trekking in the high country. Try jetboating in the beautiful surroundings of the foothills. Lovers of nature can visit award Alpine Jet Canyon Safaris winning gardens and historical departs from near Springeld homesteads or walk through to view the Waimakariri canyon native bush and wetlands. from the river. Tramp to the 8 viewing platform or take the Discovery Jet at Rakaia Gorge. Highlights Fish at one of the many JET BOATING beautiful unspoilt spots along the coast and rivers. Try surf HORSE TREKKING shing at Birdlings Flat for blue moki and kahawai or sh FARM TOURS for Chinook Salmon in the Rakaia River or Lake Coleridge. HOT AIR BALLOONING Brown and rainbow trout are TROUT FISHING also abundant in the smaller lakes nearby. LOCAL MARKETS Te Waihora/Lake Ellesmere ART GALLERIES opens to the ocean and is home to 166 species of birds THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA and 43 species of sh. FILM LOCATION Get away from the crowds SKIING and relax beside the waters of Selwyn. visit SELWYN.NZ 9 adventure explore by foot Selwyn has a wide The Willows in West Melton range of walks and follows the beautiful trails that cater for Waimakariri River and is a great place for the family including all abilities, ages and the dog, for a bike ride, walk tness levels. or picnic. Discover abundant bird life at Walk to the Washpen Falls near Ellesmere’s Hart Creek reserve, Windwhistle, famous for the walk through the University regeneration of Southern Rata township of Lincoln and learn and spectacular views across of its early settler history. the Canterbury plains to the For something a little more sea. Learn while you tread the challenging try the Coalgate Lake Coleridge Historical Walk millennium walkway which or stretch your legs to reach takes you across a working the lookout on the Rakaia River farm. The leafy shade of Gorge Walk. McHugh’s Forest in Dareld, At Kura Ta¯whiti/Castle Hill, get established in 1893, provides close to the limestone outcrops a cooling stroll through giant or explore the 362 metre long pine trees. 10 cave at Cave Stream. Highlights For a bit more of a challenge head into the mountains where HELICOPTER HILL some great walks can be found at Craigieburn Forest Park or DEVILS PUNCHBOWL Korowai/Torlesse Tussocklands ¯ Park. Selwyn’s high country KURA TAWHITI/CASTLE HILL offers longer tramps. Head BEALEY SPUR up Peak Hill or join up with Te Araroa, New Zealand’s RAKAIA GORGE WALKWAY National Pathway. WASHPEN FALLS Feel the pull of the mountains listen to the silence of the CAVE STREAM Alps and see the beauty that is Selwyn. visit SELWYN.NZ 11 adventure Explore by bike Appreciate Selwyn’s wetland reserve of Te Waihora/ beautiful landscapes Lake Ellesmere and Te Roto by bike with a trail o Wairewa/Lake Forsyth. for all abilities. Poulter Valley duel mountain biking and walking track offers Explore the hidden sights of great scenery with challenging the rural valleys, wetlands and parts of the trail. A hut is foothills of the region while available to stay with tickets getting your heart pumping. purchased from Department of Take the family out on one of Conservation. Selwyn’s easier bike trails. The For more challenging tracks Little River Rail Trail follows the near Kura Ta¯whiti/Castle Hill, old rail corridor from Hornby attempt one of the Craigieburn through Prebbleton, Lincoln, trails with views over Lake Motukarara and Birdlings Lyndon. Flat. It passes through rural areas and settlements on the Canterbury plains, loops around hills and borders the native 12 Highlights LITTLE RIVER RAIL TRAIL CRAIGEBURN TRAILS MCHUGHS FOREST THE WILLOWS POULTER VALLEY KOROWAI TORLESSE TUSSOCKLANDS visit SELWYN.NZ 13 taste From Pasture to plate Selwyn’s plains are a patchwork of vineyards, elds and farms stretching to the mountains. An Abundance Along with preserves and sauces produced from Selwyn of Locally fruit and nut trees. Make sure produced Food you try those delicious hand crafted artisan chocolates too. Our producers are hard- working and creative, bringing Support local producers and try their vibrant attitudes and the products grown and lovingly sustainable practises to made, from the land. their products. Selwyn produces foods as DISCOVER our varied as saffron, honey, olive Tasty beverages oil and sheep milk gelato to Italian-style buffalo cheeses Stop by one of our boutique like mozzarella, halloumi wineries with delicious food, and ricotta. wine tastings or cellar door specials. Visit our cafes and shops which stock our local products. If beer is more to your taste, Here you’ll nd organic and take a brewery tour in Lincoln gourmet goodies for the and nd out what makes our health-conscious foodie. local craft beers special. 14 Try some sparkling and still juices using the natural FARMERS MARKETS avours of berries and fruits sourced locally. LINCOLN TAI TAPU Markets and fruit picking ROLLESTON PREBBLETON For the berry lovers, head to one of the local blueberry or DARFIELD gooseberry orchards and pick your own. WEST MELTON Taste some local produce and LEESTON chat with the cheesemakers, trufe, saffron or nut growers, brewers and winemakers at one of the many farmer’s markets. Get the story behind the avours. Taste the Selwyn difference. visit SELWYN.NZ 15 Adventure From Fromthe Slopes theto the Sea SlopesExplore selwyn your way at your own pace intro You’lltext be to spoilt go here. for choice, with six ski elds to choose from. Accommodation lodges are available at most of the ski elds so make a weekend of it. Check out each of the ski Skiers and snowboarders have eld websites for what’s on this a wealth of opportunities with season. the six ski elds Selwyn has For something a bit different, to offer. Mt Cheeseman has Selwyn's Just over 90 minutes’ drive only outdoor skating rink next from Christchurch, Selwyn’s to Forest Lodge; or try out Mt snow elds offer uncrowded Olympus has a great hot tub to slopes, kiwi hospitality and relax in after your day skiing. easy access to some of the Ski gear can be hired from best off-piste skiing in the Gnomes Alpine Sports in world. Dareld for custom boot tting Porters, Mt Cheeseman, and gear hire. Temple Basin, Mt Olympus, Craigieburn and Broken River offer a variety of family friendly experiences and all skill levels.